Cloud Architect

At Equity Residential, we're dedicated to creating thriving communities, and we invite you to be part of our team. Embracing values like Diversity, Sustainability, and Total Wellbeing, we foster a workplace culture of authenticity and collaboration.

How We Deliver a Winning Performance:  

• Question Authority 
• Walk the Talk
• Share Knowledge
• Listen, not just Hear
• See the Glass Half Full
• Take Educated Risks
• Enjoy the Ride
• Share the Spotlight
• Do the Right Thing
• Test Your Limits 

We Care About Your Total Wellbeing:

• Physical Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision care 
• Social Wellbeing: 9 paid holidays, annual vacation time, paid sick leave, new parent benefits
• Financial Wellbeing: 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan, Rent Discounts, Competitive Compensation
• Community Wellbeing: Paid Community Service Hours
• Career Wellbeing: Leadership Development
• Learn more about our Total Wellbeing program here.

What You’ll Be Doing:

The cloud architect will work as a technical leader focused on planning, analyzing, designing, and implementing Microsoft Azure cloud IaaS and PaaS enterprise-scalable solutions.  The technical architect proactively and holistically leads and supports cloud activities that guide the development and management of data and analytics solutions. These solutions enable the organization’s future-state business capabilities and drive the organization’s targeted business outcomes. Will create deliverables that help develop target-state guidance (standards, guidelines, individual parts, platforms and configurations) for evolving the cloud infrastructure across the enterprise, in order to enable business strategy and deliver targeted business outcomes.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Partner with IT leadership and other business teams to develop standards, templates, frameworks, and solutions in order to drive our cloud strategy across the organization and within our services for internal and external customer delivery.
• Review and manage technical requirements and business functional requirements to establish new cloud systems and migrate existing applications using Azure cloud services.
• Collect feedback from other team leads and make recommendations to deploy Azure infrastructure and move workloads to Azure compute resources.
• Coaches, mentors and collaborates with technical subject matter experts and EA peers to develop technology architecture that enables and drives new business capabilities and operating models
• Assists with designing the governance, assurance and standards activities associated with ensuring enterprise Azure technology architecture compliance of projects and products.
• Know when to either re-use existing or define new templates for automating the deployment (such as Terraform, ARM, and/or PowerShell) of Azure resources.
• Coach Azure DevOps and Data Engineers in cloud best practices to help them upskill and perform their job responsibilities.
• Monitor and report on Azure usage costs and recommend solutions for cost savings as necessary.
• Keep up to date on the latest Azure cloud services, tools, and major changes.
• Willing to work with other 3rd party and/or on-premise application platforms as needed.
• Represents the Company in a professional manner at all times. Consistently maintain a professional courteous attitude when dealing with coworkers and the general public.
• Performs other duties as necessary/assigned.

The Company may revise this job description from time to time as business needs require. It is not intended to be an exhaustive listing of all the functions of the job, nor to limit the Company’s right to assign other functions to an employee in this position. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

JOB QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, system analysis or a related study, or equivalent experience
• 7+ years of relevant infrastructure or software engineering experience.
• 3+ years of experience working with, designing, and implementing Azure cloud solutions.
• 2+ years of experience automating the delivery of IaaS and PaaS solutions.
• 2+ years of experience leading technical proof of concept projects.
• Experience architecting/designing solutions built on cloud is required.
• Experience migrating or transforming legacy solutions to the cloud.
• Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification is required.
• Excellent interpersonal skills in areas such as teamwork, facilitation and negotiation
• Strong leadership skills
• Excellent analytical and technical skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent planning and organizational skills
• Knowledge of different modeling languages and methodologies
• Knowledge of IT standards and controls
• Understanding of information principles and processes
• Understanding of system development life cycle methodologies (such as waterfall, spiral, agile software development, rapid prototyping, incremental, synchronize and stabilize, and DevOps)
• Ability to quickly comprehend the functions and capabilities of existing, new and emerging technologies that enable and drive new business designs and models
• Motivated and driven by achieving long-term business outcomes
• Ability to balance the long-term (big picture) and short-term implications of individual decisions
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and lead cross-functional teams
• Provide weekend and after-hours support as required by the position.

Salary: $145,000 to $165,000 per year; in addition to base salary, a discretionary annual 13% bonus is provided.

The successful candidate's starting pay will be determined based on job-related skills, experience, and qualifications.

PHYSICAL AND VISUAL ACTIVITIES: 

Ability to hear and speak well enough to converse verbally over the phone and in-person (expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken or written word). Ability to interpret, evaluate and communicate detailed written or verbal instructions to others accurately and easily.   Able to see well enough to use the computer effectively and read written communications.  Ability to lift, push, pull or carry up to 15 pounds for the dissemination of documents, supplies, materials, etc. to various locations throughout the office/facility. May be required to climb stairs depending on the property structure.

The above describes the physical and visual activities that are commonly associated with the performance of the essential functions of this job.  “Commonly associated” is not intended to mean always or only.  Reasonable accommodation will be provided as required by law to enable otherwise qualified employees with a known disability to perform the essential functions of the job.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

Office environment, large conventions or meeting environments, and/or onsite at a residential multifamily property.

Working for Equity Residential (EQR), a leading multi-family real estate investment trust (REIT), means living our purpose: creating communities where people thrive. It means striving to provide the best in apartment living, speaking boldly about new ideas for innovation, and inspiring creativity in the ways we work together. 

Our portfolio of high-quality properties in urban growth markets – New York City, Boston, Washington DC, Seattle, San Francisco, Southern California, and Denver – provides homes where people most want to live, work and play. We've got the best people in the business, as evidenced by our employee engagement scores and customer loyalty ratings. That’s why our employees say they are proud to work at Equity, a company that gives our residents a place where they can Live Remarkably, and offers a culture where our employees have the opportunity to thrive.

Equity Rewards

When you join Equity Residential, you won’t be treated as simply another employee — you will be considered a partner in our shared success. As such, we are committed to investing in your personal success through a benefits program that supports your Total Wellbeing. 

We recognize that everyone has different needs outside of work. That’s why, in addition to a competitive benefits package (medical, dental, vision and paid time off), we offer many unique benefits options to employees, like a comprehensive wellness program, pet insurance, new parent benefits, and paid time off for community service projects. In addition to your next job, you can also find your next home with us! Rent discounts on Equity Residential apartment homes are available to our benefits-eligible employees. The amount of the discount offered is determined based on the market, ranging upwards from 20%. Learn more about our Total Wellbeing program here.

Equity Values

At Equity Residential, like our residents, our employees come from everywhere. A richly diverse work environment captures top talent, cultivates the best ideas, and creates the widest possible platform for success. By focusing on inclusion, these differences are harnessed to create value — in ideas, business practices, relationships, and employee engagement. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are committed to maintaining a diverse, inclusive and equitable work environment where our employees can thrive. 

All aspects of the employment process are merit-based. Every Equity employee is expected to maintain a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment. Equity Residential does not discriminate against any employee or job applicant because of race, religion, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender, sexual/gender identity/expression, age, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation or related medical conditions), physical or mental disability, national origin, citizenship status, military (including uniformed service member or protected veteran) status, marital status, genetic characteristic or information, ancestry or any other characteristic protected by law. Equity Residential also prohibits retaliation against individuals who report harassment or discrimination, or participate in investigations into such conduct.